LogFAQs > #912384386

By which I mean "concerns about a threat to the facility".

I won't go into what this client does, but suffice to say they do enough to have their own on-site utility plant, which is run by contracted operators at all hours. They also have me contracted for the main facility as a safety consultant.

The evening operator of this plant is the kind of person who always struck everyone as a little odd in how they interacted with everyone. Nothing super red flag, until this past weekend. Apparently, the person was just informed their spouse had cancer, and didn't take it well. As the day operator was passing the work off to the evening operator, the operator apparently vented a little bit about how much they hate the place and wish they could take a gun to it. This seriously unnerved the day operator and he made sure to contact the local site people as well as his own bosses with his contractor. At the end of it all, the police were called, the evening operator was escorted off the site, and the person was fired.

I learned about all this because Monday the facilities managers who were made aware of the incident spoke to me and my team, as safety consultants, to let us into the loop. Of course, as contractors ourselves, all we can do is advise, and at the moment, there's not much we can do given the facility wants to keep this on the DL for the time being, so rumors don't spread and there aren't people panicking about a potential threat.

It does have me worried about how prepared this facility is in the event of an active shooter incident. We had just been bouncing around bringing ALICE Training on site for a session with the managerial staff, but it's the kind of thing you try not to think about because you don't want to believe it could happen.

Anyway, at the end of the day, it's likely nothing will happen, and it sucks that simply by stating this threatening language that the person lost their job, especially when they're in such a state with their home life, but still, who can take such chances in this day and age?

Also, the day operator themselves is still very rattled. Having just borne witness to threatening language, they actually had to take some time off to get away from work. They're former military and are legitimately fearing for their own life having reported this person.

So, moral of the story, kids. Always always take care with what you say at your workplace and in your professional life. Sometimes a venting can cost you everything.
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CyricZ